WWestern leaders speak when disaster is imminent. They hold meetings, convene summits, debate each other through UN ambassadors, and interact with top advisers behind closed doors. They then turn to the media and tell them what’s going on, but the process doesn’t end there. These days, especially when the crisis involves Russia, these leaders, diplomats, advisors, and people from the Russian opposition sat down with documentarian Norma Percy a few years later, and we I will tell you what was said. Really happened.
This is the conceit of Percy’s addictive recent history series “Putin vs. the West,” which previously covered the difficult eight years leading up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In his two-part update, which adds the dark postscript “At War” to the title, the unthinkable happens. But despite the grim subject matter, Percy maintains a talent for showing that diplomacy is a chaotic game of bluff and theatrics, and often downright funny.
We made our opening statement at the International Security Conference in Munich, a few days before the outbreak of war. Ukraine, suspicious of what is to come, begs the West to provide or, failing that, sell military equipment to protect it, but initial promises are overwhelming. “At first, the Germans gave us 5,000 helmets,” says Oleksiy Danilov, head of Ukraine’s National Security Council, deadpanned. “Of course we were very grateful.”
And during a tense meeting of the United Nations Security Council, convened to try to persuade Russia not to invade, there was a moment that seemed more like an Armando Iannucci satire than the real world. Suddenly, everyone present turned to their cell phones, which were ringing with the news that Russia had invaded.
The story from there is one of delicate debate over when and how to send weapons to Ukraine, influenced by a general desire not to start World War III. when and how to apply economic sanctions; The vulnerabilities of each country are difficult, such as Germany’s dependence on Russian gas and Britain’s acceptance of the Russian oligarchy. and NATO strategic operations.
In a series that relies on what politicians actually say to divine their motives, the last part of the series is less scrutinized, but the complex developments in international relations are skillfully summarized and fascinating. summarized in a story. As usual, Percy’s list of interviewees is quite impressive, led by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin are the only big names not erased.
The show gives access to each country’s most dignified politicians, which can leave British viewers unsettled from the moment. Let me remind you that at this most serious moment, we have been led by a government full of politicians who, in the words of Succession’s Logan Roy, are “not serious.” The British Prime Minister is reported to have entered into urgent talks with foreign policy strategists as the situation in Ukraine develops. Oh, yes, yes, the Prime Minister! The exception is…Boris Johnson, who opens his contribution here by spewing “Anglo-Saxon epithets about Putin” and gleefully talking about how he reacted to news of the invasion.
When the UK Foreign Secretary arrives in February 2022, companies will be devalued even more suddenly. The holder of this great State Department turned out to be, you guessed it, Liz Truss. Her statements about how she rejected Russia’s ridiculous propaganda that the people of Donbass need help are marred by her empty attitude.
At a meeting at 10 Downing Street, she explains her position to the Russian ambassador, Andrei Kerin, but at least Percy’s retelling, which interjects between Truss and Kerin’s explanations, is hilarious. Truss said he was morally outraged by Kerin’s comments and told him to “get out of my office!” Kellyn claims that Truss flew out of his own office and left him there. It is not documented whether she succeeded in doing this or whether she kept it in her stationery cupboard.
After newsletter promotion
That this is one of many comic moments that punctuate what is essentially a sober program underscores the point of Percy’s filmmaking. Humanity’s most important collective decisions are made by individuals with at best flawed, sometimes ridiculous, and malicious selves. – Frequently interested. It might be a good idea to laugh about it.
